Control mechanism for reclining chairs



Patented Mar. 31, 1931 PATENT oFFlcE CHARLES E. FERREIRA F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA l CONTROL MECHANISM FOR RECLINING CHAIRS AppIication led November 6, 1929.

My invention relates toimprovements in control mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the back of reclining chairs wherein a control bar is assembled as a unit with actu- 5 ating springs and a guide and stop member for installation under the seat of a chair and arranged to be connected to a pivoted back movable to reclining positions relative to the seat.

The present invention consists in an improved construction and arrangement of actuating and control members for reclining chairs of the type disclosed in my (3o-pending application, Serial Number 145,805, filed November 2, 1926, the primary object being to provide a control mechanism of increased efiiciency.

Another object is to provide an improved control mechanism of simple and effective `2o construction which may be constructed, as-

sembled, and installed as a unit.

A further object is to provide an improved device of the character described which will facilitate assembling and installation.

A still further object is to provide an improved control mechanism of more rugged and durable construction, and which is more positive and efficient in its operation.

I accomplish these and other objects by 130 means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specification and drawings, and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved control mechanism as applied upon a reclining chair, the near side member of the chair being removed; fr

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved control unit, partly in vertical section;

Fig. 8 is a broken front elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4 and 5, are broken detail views show- '45 ing modified forms of retaining notches upon the control bar.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 `is used to designate in general a chair frame having a back frame 2 pivotally mounted thereon as at 3 for angular adjustment rela-v serial No. 405,136.

tive to the usual seat provided in such chairs and supported at the front by a transverse frame member 4 in the ordinary manner. The back frame 2 is provided with downwardly disposed extensions 6.A

In my present invention, my improved control mechanism consists of a control bar 7` slidably mounted for longitudinal movement through a guide member 8 having a slot v- 9 arranged to receive the bar 7. The bar 7 `60 has a plurality of notches or teeth 11 formed upon the upper edge thereof and arranged to engagea rigidstop portion 12 formed at the top of the slot 9. A downwardly and forwardly extendingV foot pedal 14 is con- .65 nected to the forward end of the bar 7 and a downwardly disposed extension 16 having an opening 17 therein is connected to the rearward end of the bar 7. The bar 7 is preferably formed from cast metal with the '70 pedal extension 14 and the apertured eXtension 16 cast integrally therewith as shown in the drawings.

. The guide member 8 is preferably tubular in form and threaded at each end. The slot 9 is cut diametrically across the body of the member 8 from one end thereof, the slot being cut to a greater depth upon one side than upon the other to form the stop 12 adjacent the top and upon the rearward side of the member 8. The upper end of the member 8 is threaded into a ange fitting 17 whereby the guide may be secured upon the under side of the member 4 under the chair seat. The lower end of the guide member 8 is provided with a cap 18 closing the lower end of the member and its slot 9 and retaining a spring 19 within the lower portion of the member 48 to normally press the bar 7 into engagement with the stop 12.

A spring guide rod 21 is connected at its forward end to the lower end of the guide member 8, and arranged to extend rearwardly through the opening 17' in the extension 16 substantially parallel to the bar 7. 95 The rod 21 is preferably tapped into the side of the cap 18 and secured thereto by means of a jam nut 22 threaded onto the rod 21 and tightenedagainst the cap; A compression coil spring 28 is mounted around the rod 21, 10G

said spring` being compressed between the guide member 8 and the extension 16 to normally move the control bar 7 rearwardly relative to the guide member. The pressure of the spring 23 is adjusted by means of an adjusting nut 24 threaded upon the forward end of the rod 21 adjacent the jam nut 22 and forming an abutment for the spring 23 at the fixed end thereof.

The control bar 7 is connected to ythe back frame 2 by means of a pair of connecting members 26 rigidly secured to the bar 7 adjacent the rearward end thereof by suitable securing members 27 the rearward ends of said members 26 being pivotally connected as at 28 to the lower ends of the extensions 6 of the back frame.

The control mechanism is constructed. and assembled as a unit wherein the control bar 7, and the springs-19 and'23 are mounted.

upon the guide member 8. The spring 23 holds the member 7 in its eXtreme rearward position as defined by the pedal 14. which. in said extreme position, preferably abuts against the guide member 8. At the same time, the spring 19 seats the bar with the stop 12 engaged by the outermost notch or tooth 11. The-assembled structure forms a light and compact structure which may be readily secured upon a chair frame -by means of the flange fitting 17 without disturbing the adjustment of the assembled mechanism. The connecting members 26 may be secured 'to the rearward end of the bar 7 either' before -or after the device has been mounted upon a chair.

In operation. my .improved control mechanism. assembled upon a chair asherein disclosed, provides a. simple and convenient means for adjusting the reclining position ofthe seat back. In normal position the control bar 7 occupies its eXtreme rearward position. thereby holding the back 2 in its normal upright position by means of the connect-ions 26. In this position, the outermost notch or tooth 11 of the har 7 engages the stop 12. If it is desired to move the back to a reclining` position. the pedal. 14 is depressed by the heel of an occupant of the chair. thereby depressing` the bar 7iandmoving the tooth or notch 11 out of engagement with the stop 12. The weight ofan occupant leaning rearwardly against the seat back will now cause said back to swing` rearwardly, and in sodoing will move the bar 7 forwardly through the guide member 8 against the pressure of the spring 23. lVhen the pedal 14 is released. the bar 7 will be moved upwardly by the spring- 19 to cause a desired tooth or notch 11 to engage the stop 12. Further forward movement of the bar 7 will thus be prevented bythe notch 11 engaged.

In the preferred form of retaining notch or tooth .11, the bottom part of each notch thereby permitting the spring 23 to advance the bar 7 to its normal `position and thereby return the back 2 to its normal upright position when -relieved from the weight of the occupant.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a tooth structure wherein thenotches 11 are formed: as forwardly faced ratchet teeth. When any tooth 11 engages` the stop,12, rearward tiltinfv` of the back is prevented by the forward face of a tooth 11 against the'back` of the stop.' 12.

Then the back-is relieved from. the weight of an occupant the spring. immediatelyand automatically returns the barv 7 andV back2 to normal positions.

In Fig. 5 I have shown asquare cut notch 11. Each notch in `this form will operate to hold the bacl 2 in a desired adjusted position. regardlessof whether .the weight ofan occu pant is imposed .upon the back. In ythis last mentioned form, as .well `as inthe preferred form, each notchror. tooth 11 delines a fixed position of the bar and back in which said bar and backfmay be retained until.V released byidepressing the pedal.

The specific-details of construction and materials disclosed in! the present application are subject toz'modification without .departving from the spiritlof my invention. I th ere- Yn orm al upright position to reclining positions relative toa seat. of a. rigirflguide ymember depending from the front of the seat' and provided -witb aston portionra control bar slidably mounted within the guideand having a plurality of retaining notches adapted to engage the stop; means connecting. the bar with theback for moving the bar longitud inally through theguide when the back is moved from one position' tofanotherymeans normally holding the barin engagementwith the stop g meanscarried upon the forward end of the bar for depressing said bar out of engagement with the stop; a compression spring mounted adjacent to the barra-'fixed abutment carried by the vguidemember to seat the forward end of thespring; andineans carried by the bar and forming a seat forthe rearward end of the spring, said spring operating to normally move the bar and the back to normal positions.

2. A control mechanism for reclining chairs comprising the combination with a chair having a seat pivotally movable from a normal upright position to reclining positions relative to a seat, of a stationary guide member depending from the front of the seat and provided with a rigid stop portion; a control bar slidably mounted within the guide and provided with a plurality of retaining notches adapted to engage the stop portion of the guide; means connecting the rearward end of the bar with the back to move the bar longitudinally when the back is moved from one position to another; means normally holding the bar in engagement with the stop; a foot pedal connected to the forward end of the bar and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom for depressing' the bar out of engagement with the stop; a downwardly disposed extension carried upon the rearward end of the bar; and a compression spring mounted between the guide member and the extension upon the rearward end of the bar to normally move the bar and the back to normal positions.

8. A Control mechanism for reclining chairs comprising the combination with a chair having a back pivotally movable, from a normal upright position to reclining positions relative to a seat; of a stationary guide member depending from the front of the seat and provided with a rigid stop portion; a control bar slidably mounted within the guide and provided with a plurality of retaining notches adapted to engage the stop portion of the guide; means connecting the rearward end of the bar with the back to move the bar longitudinally when the back is moved from one position to another; means normally holding the bar in engagement with the stop; a foot pedal connected to the forward end of the bar for depressing the bar out of engagement with the stop; a downwardly disposed extension carried upon the rearward end of the bar; a spring guide secured to the depending guide member and slidably engaged by the downwardly disposed eXtension of the bar; and a compression spring mounted upon said spring guide and compressed between said extension and the guide member to normally move the bar and the back to normal positions.

4. A control mechanism for reclining chairs comprising the combination with a chair having a back pivotally movable from a normal upright position to reclining positions relative to a seat, of a stationary guide member depending from the front of the seat and provided with a rigid stop portion; a control bar slidably mounted within the guide and provided with a plurality of retaining Vnotches adapted t0 engage the stop portion of the guide; means connecting the rearward end of the bar with the seat back to move the bar longitudinally when the back is moved from one position to another; a spring mounted within the lower end of the guide member and normally holding the bar with one of its notches engaging the stop; a foot pedal upon the forward end of the bar for depressing the-bar out of engagement with the stop; a downwardly disposed slotted extension formed upon the rearward end of the bar; a spring guide secured at its forward end to the guide member and having its rearward end extending rearwardly through the slotted extension; and a compression spring mounted upon the spring guide and compressed between the guide member and the slotted extension to normally move the bar and the back to normal positions.

5. In a control mechanism for reclining chairs, a control unit comprising a guide member adapted to be mounted in depending position upon the forward edge of a chair seat; a control bar slidably mounted for longitudinal movement through the guide, said bar being provided with a foot pedal extension upon its forward end and with a downwardly disposed slotted extension upon its rearward end; a stop formed upon the guide member; retaining notches formed upon Vthe bar to engage the stop; spring means for moving the bar to engage the stop in any of said notches; a spring guide rod secured at its forward end to the guide member and extending rearwardly through the slotted extension; and a compression spring mounted around the rod and compressed between the guide member and the slotted eX- tension to normally move the bar rearwardly to its eXtreme position, said spring and bar.

being assembled upon the guide member' as a unit for installation upon a seat bottom to receive' connecting means extending from the bar to a pivoted back mounted for reclining adjustment relative to the seat.

6. In a control mechanism for reclining chairs, a control unit comprising a slotted guide member `provided with a mounting flange upon its upper end to be secured upon the under side of chair seat; a rigid stopfj formed upon the guide member at the upper end of its slot; a control bar slidably mounted within the guide slot and having a plurality of notches to engage the stop, said bar being provided with a downwardly and for wardly disposed foot pedal at its forward end and with a downwardly disposed apertured extension at its rearward end; a spring mounted within the guide member to normally move the bar to engage the stop in any.Y

of the notches in said bar; a retaining cap upon the lower end of the guide member to retain the spring; a spring guide rod connected at its forward end to the lower end of the guide member and extending rearwardly through the apertured extension; and a compression spring mounted around the rod and compressed between the guide member and the apertured extension to normally move the bar rearwardly to an extreme position.

7. In ay control mechanism for reclining chairs, a control unit comprising a guide member adapted to be rigidly mounted adjacent the forward edge of a chair seat; a control' bar slidably mounted for longitudinal movement' in the guide; a foot pedal eX- tension upon the forward end of the bar; a fixed stop uponthe guide; retaining notches upon the bar to engage the stop; spring means engaging the bar to move said bar and the notches thereof into engagement with the stop;V al spring mounted upon the unit with its forward end rigidly seated adjacent the guide; and means carried by the inner endY of the bar to seat the rearward end of the spring7 said spring normally moving the bar to its extreme rearward position, and said spring and bar being assembled upon the guide member for installation as a unit'upon a chair to receive connecting means connected to the bar and to a. pivoted back mounted upon the chair.

8. In a controlA mechanism for reclining chairs, a control unit comprising a guide member adapted to be rigidly mounted adjacent the forward edge of a chair seat; a control bar slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the guide; a foot pedal extenn sion upon the forward end of the bar; a fixed stop upon the guide; retaining notches upon the bar to engage the stop; spring means engaging the bar to move said bar and the notches thereof into engagement with the stop; a spring guide rod mounted inV spaced relation to the bar and having the forward end` thereof secured to the guide; a spring mounted upon the guide rod; and means carried by the rearward end ofthe bar and movably engaging the rearward end of the spring guide rod, said spring seating upon said means to normally press the rod rearwardly to its extreme rearward position and lz-eing compressible by a forward movement of the bar, said spring and bar being assembledfupon the guide member for installation as a unitupon a chair to receive connecting means connected to the bar and to a pivoted back mounted upon the chair.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my signature.

CHARLES E. FERREIRA. 

